Knit a Cowgirl Cowlette: Cozy Style and Comfort

There’s something glamorous about a big swooping shawl, with so many ways it can be draped and styled. But then there are shawl pins to keep track of, and sometimes you just need a little bit of warmth around your neck.

That’s where the Cowgirl Cowlette by Daniela Nii comes in handy. Always effortlessly styled, it’s a lacy cowl with a minimum of fuss. The triangular point gives it the look of a triangular shawl, but because the top portion is worked in the round, you’ll never need to hunt for shawl pins!

Knitting the Cowgirl Cowlette

The Cowgirl Cowlette is worked from the point-up, growing outward and upward until it’s joined for working in the round. It’s big enough to be a generous size but compact enough to use a single skein of sportweight yarn, making it a true one-skein wonder.

Don’t feel daunted by the three different charts—they’re all the same stitch pattern. The first chart sets the shaping for the point, the second establishes the repeat and continues shaping the cowl body, and the third is for working in the round.

The lace repeats form a chevron shape. As the cowl grows, you’ll find the stitch patterns are easy to remember—the lace sections stack on top of themselves nicely and are separated by garter stitch ridges. Instead of “just one more row,” you’ll find yourself saying, “just one more repeat!”

The Cowgirl Cowlette is the perfect layering accessory.

The Possibilities are Endless

Originally worked with handspun yarn, the Cowgirl Cowlette is designed for sportweight yarn. It would look great with any solid, tonal, gradient, or self-striping yarn. If you like the look of the sample with it slight barberpole effect, consider Spincycle Dyed in the Wool or Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball. Both come in stunning arrays of colors that mimic a handspun sportweight yarn.

If you’re looking for other yarn ideas, the Cowgirl Cowlette is a great opportunity to use that special skein of luxury yarn you’ve been saving for just the right project. Or think of it as a fun way to combine different colors—since each garter ridge highlights the chevron shape created by the lace, you could try knitting each garter ridge with a contrasting color to make it really pop!

The stitch pattern shows off the variations of self-striping and marled yarns.

The Perfect Layer

No matter what yarn you choose, the Cowgirl Cowlette is the perfect layering accessory. Wear it under coats in the winter, or with a light jacket in the spring and fall for a cozy bit of warmth and plenty of style with a minimum of fuss.

Subscribers can find the Cowgirl Cowlette in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.